Yes, You Can Bowhunt During Gun Season

Choosing to bowhunt during gun season certainly adds an extra layer of difficult to and already difficult task.

But Bowhunter Magazine's Brian Fortenbaugh is willing to give it a try and shows that it can be a success. Be sure to check state regulations. Some states, such as Iowa, do not allow archery equipment to be used during shotgun season.

In this segment from Bowhunter Magazine TV, Fortenbaugh has the legally required blaze orange on and he's perched in a tree stand with his bow in hand.

Bowhunting during gun season means you likely need to change up your approach just a bit. Finding a property where gun pressure is low, or nonexistent, is important. The added hunting pressure that comes from the start of gun season does put deer on the move but those deer will not be moving naturally in most instances. Instead, they'll be responding to the increase in human activity and will seek our sanctuary type areas.

If the gun season coincides with the rut, movement can be good as bucks will continue to seek out does. But those does will likely be heading for security cover to escape the hunting pressure. Locate a stand in that area and you can successfully bowhunt during gun season.